A driver who abandoned her car after ploughing into a parked vehicle and fleeing the scene was carrying cocaine.
Mum-of-one Coral Turner was behind the wheel of her Audi Q2 when she was captured on camera crashing into an unoccupied Smart car.
But, rather than stay and face the music, the 29-year-old drove off, a court was told.
Go here for the latest reports and live updates from North East courts
However, police later found Turner's vehicle abandoned nearby and discovered cocaine inside.
Turner, of Greenlea, in North Shields, has now narrowly avoided being banned from the roads after she pleaded guilty to careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and possession of a class A drug.
Paul Doney, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said the complainant was at home on Hillheads Road, in Whitley Bay, at around 9pm on July 16 last year.
"He heard an almighty bang outside his address," Mr Doney continued. "He went out and saw his car had been crashed into and shunted into a tree."
The court heard that the accident was captured on CCTV and the police were called.
Turner's Audi was then discovered abandoned nearby.
Mr Doney added: "White powder was found in the car and, when tested, it was found to be cocaine.
"In interview, the defendant said she had hit the car after swerving to avoid a man on the road.
"There is CCTV showing the incident and there's nobody in the road to avoid."
In a statement, the elderly owner of the damaged car said: "This incident completely shook me and my wife up.
"As pensioners, we don't expect anything like this to happen at 9 at night and it caused us a lot of stress having to sort the insurance."
The court heard that the Smart car was written off.
John Brown, defending, said Turner had gone to a police station voluntarily the morning after to admit what she'd done.
He added: "The crash is at relatively low speed - it appears she was driving well within the speed limit."
Turner was fined £289 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £76 victim surcharge. She was also given nine penalty points.
Sign up to our newsletter for the latest crime and court news in the North East
